Back in 2023, fans of the beloved animated series, the Powerpuff Girls, were disheartened to learn that The CW had canceled a live-action adaptation following numerous challenges. However, recent developments have reignited interest as a leaked teaser video surfaced online, offering a glimpse into what could have been a very different take on the iconic characters.
This morning, the YouTube channel "Lost Media Busters" shared the three-and-a-half-minute trailer, which was swiftly removed due to a copyright claim by Warner Bros. Entertainment. The teaser introduced a mature narrative where Blossom (portrayed by Chloe Bennet), Bubbles (Dove Cameron), and Buttercup (Yana Perrault) have transitioned into adulthood. The trailer depicted Blossom as stressed and burnt out, Bubbles dealing with alcohol, and Buttercup embracing a rebellious attitude while challenging gender norms.
The storyline unfolds with the trio accidentally causing the death of a character named Mojo, prompting them to flee Townsville. Years later, they return to visit their father, Professor Utonium (played by Donald Faison), only to find themselves facing Mojo's adult son, Jojo, who has become the mayor of Townsville and is manipulating its citizens in a quest for vengeance. The trailer's tone leans towards the edgy, featuring humor such as Bubbles' reference to juggalos and Buttercup's bold comment about Jojo's vendetta against Blossom.
The CW confirmed to Variety that the leaked footage was authentic, yet emphasized that it was not an official release intended for the public. The live-action Powerpuff Girls project was initially announced in 2020 but faced cancellation in 2023 after various setbacks, including an unsuccessful pilot and the exit of Chloe Bennet from the series.
Reflecting on the project's challenges, CW chairman and CEO Mark Pedowitz commented, "The reason you do pilots is because sometimes things miss, and this was just a miss. We believe in the cast completely. We believe in Diablo [Cody] and Heather [Regnier], the writers. We believe in the auspices of Greg Berlanti and Warner studios. In this case, the pilot didn’t work. But because we see there’s enough elements in there, we wanted to give it another shot. So that’s why we didn’t want to go forward with what we had. Tonally, it might’ve felt a little too campy. It didn’t feel as rooted in reality as it might’ve felt. But again, you learn things when you test things out. And so in this case, we felt, let’s take a step back and go back to the drawing board."
